Pataki Embraces TZB Plan

Former Gov. George Pataki, who defeated the current governor’s father in a bitter 1994 upset election, endorsed Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s push build a replacement for the Tappan Zee Bridge.

“I know first-hand the urgent need for a new and safer bridge to replace the deteriorating Tappan Zee. The current span is dangerous, congested and an impediment to economic growth in Westchester and Rockland counties. Simply repairing the bridge is not worth the continued investment and it is more cost effective to build a new, state-of-the-art bridge. A new bridge will not only be more secure and reduce traffic congestion, but will also create thousands of good jobs for New Yorkers in the Hudson Valley. I support the Governor in his effort to build a new transit-ready Tappan Zee bridge.”

Unlike disgraced former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Pataki seems to be operating under a code afforded former U.S. presidents when it comes to criticizing your successor.

And despite Mario Cuomo’s defeat for a fourth term at his hands, Pataki and the younger Cuomo have, by all accounts, a good public relationship.

Cuomo’s office has been blasting our various statements for the last several days touting the support from community officials and elected leaders on the re-building effort, which has been gaining some steam this summer after years of delay and inaction.

Notably absent from the list of bold-faced names endorsing the plan are Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, and his Rockland County counterpart, Scott Vanderhoef.